Feb. 20th Chat With Vanessa and Rickey!  Vanessa and Rickey (In the middle is Ryan seacrest)
<--------
marmalolly: Did you have a viewing party like the other 2 groups did? What did you think of seeing yourselves on TV?
2/20/2003 7:03:19 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Actually, no, I didn't have a viewing party, but I had friends and family that did. And it was very strange seeing myself on TV. I look much wider!
2/20/2003 7:04:17 PM
Rickey Smith: No I didn't have a watch party. A bunch of my friends did. It was weird to see myself though, I thought I looked like a big grinning guy!
2/20/2003 7:04:32 PM
mandi717 : Every one of us probably had a dream career when we were kids. Was yours always to become a famous singer or did you have something else in mind?
2/20/2003 7:05:06 PM
Rickey Smith: When I was a kid I thought I wanted to be a doctor, believe it or not. I watched Doogie Howser...
2/20/2003 7:05:49 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: I wanted to be Cyndi Lauper. I used to run around the house singing her songs. I think I'm trying to emulate her, you know, by having weird hair.
2/20/2003 7:06:24 PM
Antonio21E: Hi guys! Congrats on entering the Top Ten! I am going to audition for Canadian Idol, so what is one thing I should do and one thing I should not do?
2/20/2003 7:06:59 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Have a good time! That's what it's all *aboot.*
2/20/2003 7:06:59 PM
Rickey Smith: Try not to be nervous. And remember, don't forget the words!
2/20/2003 7:07:21 PM
idol_2004: Do you guys ever get intimidated by your fellow contestents after they perform?
2/20/2003 7:07:58 PM
Rickey Smith: Yes! Very intimidated. Everyone in the group was very talented.
2/20/2003 7:08:13 PM
berocca_girl: Rickey and Vanessa, which judge has given you the most constructive criticism? Do you think their comments have helped you to get this far?
2/20/2003 7:08:33 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: I'd have to say Simon. I think that even though he can be very harsh and very cruel, usually he's pretty truthful.
2/20/2003 7:10:08 PM
Rickey Smith: I would say Simon is the most honest, but I would say for me, Paula was most useful. She's the one who talked to me about the whole image thing, and how I was looking older than I really was.
2/20/2003 7:10:28 PM
DemocracyDemon : In order to be in American Idol, have either of you had to put your lives on hold (college, relationships, jobs, etc.)?
2/20/2003 7:10:58 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Yeah, I really love my job, so I was kinda upset about leaving it. Everyone cried on my last day, and I really miss it. So maybe one day I'll be able to go back when I have a big concert tour or something.
2/20/2003 7:11:28 PM
Rickey Smith: Yep, I sat out of school this semester to be on AI.
2/20/2003 7:11:43 PM
eponine11: Congrats! If you could record a duet with any singer, alive or dead, who would you choose?
2/20/2003 7:12:02 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: I'd have to say either Elton John or Bette Midler.
2/20/2003 7:12:02 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Michael Jackson! Or Michael Jackson!
2/20/2003 7:12:33 PM
umtamyrawins: Hey Vanessa! I love you, and I think you have a great sense of style. Who are some of your fashion icons?
2/20/2003 7:13:26 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Let's see, I love Bjork. I think she's so original and creative, even if she's a little wacky. My fashion is derived from deep inside my mind. I always kinda go to thrift shops and just put stuff together....Oh, and Madonna, she's timeless.
2/20/2003 7:13:30 PM
RaySamite: Rickey, you are so funny! Who are your favorite comedians?
2/20/2003 7:14:16 PM
Rickey Smith: Eddie Murphy! I'm a great big Eddie Murphy fan. I also like Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, Martin Lawrence, and Jeff Foxworthy.
2/20/2003 7:14:30 PM
bathtub.gin: Rickey and Vanessa, you guys are great! I’m rooting for both of you! What is it like suddenly having fans?
2/20/2003 7:15:24 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: I never had them before, so it's definitely different. It's weird going to malls and people saying "OMG You're the girl with the pink hair!"
2/20/2003 7:15:43 PM
Rickey Smith: I'm a people person, so I love it. People are like, "That's the Hercules dude. Hercules!"
2/20/2003 7:15:50 PM
Mkpfr: Rickey -- What is this Hercules thing?
2/20/2003 7:16:35 PM
Rickey Smith: Okay, Eddie Murphy does it in two of his movies: The Nutty Professor and The Klumps. You should just watch the movies and you'll know what I'm talking about.
2/20/2003 7:16:50 PM
SmileyShan0213: Hey Guys! Congrats on making it to the top ten! This question is for Vanessa. Did you feel offended when Simon told you to shed a few pounds?
2/20/2003 7:17:26 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Nah, I didn't feel offended at all. I know that everything he says is for show, for TV. If he told everyone that they were perfect and skinny and had the best voice, it wouldn't be good TV. I have a nice butt!
2/20/2003 7:17:26 PM
Rickey Smith: Big booty! I gotta tell you, you got a nice butt.
2/20/2003 7:17:26 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Aww thank you!
2/20/2003 7:17:54 PM
bianca_italiana: First of all, I'd like to say that you two are AMAZING. My question is: How will you two be preparing for your next performance?
2/20/2003 7:18:43 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Jogging, working out, taking Simon's advice and losing a little bit of weight. Luckily it drops really quickly when I need it to, so it'll be easy for me to lose ten pounds.
2/20/2003 7:19:02 PM
Rickey Smith: I'll be doing the same thing. Singing and jogging is good for your pitch, you know, at the same time, so I'll be doing a lot of that.
2/20/2003 7:19:16 PM
goofychoirchick : Did you two stay up the night before you sang to practice or did you sleep?
2/20/2003 7:19:38 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: I always sleep. Sleep comes first. If you lose sleep, performance will not be up to par.
2/20/2003 7:19:38 PM
Rickey Smith: I slept. Extracurricular activites... naps!
2/20/2003 7:20:06 PM
xbettisfanx: Does having your family on the set make you more nervous, knowing that they are watching too?
2/20/2003 7:21:06 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Yeah, it does make me a little more nervous. My dad puts a lot of pressure on me, and it does make me nervous and jittery, and sometimes I just want to wring his neck.
2/20/2003 7:21:34 PM
Rickey Smith: Yeah, same here...my mom is the one who gives more advice, and my dad is more laid back. Sometimes it just goes in one ear, and out the other.
2/20/2003 7:21:49 PM
dancingqueen198: Hey guys! I just wanted to say congratulations and good luck. After American Idol is over, are you going to pursue a singing career if you don't win?
2/20/2003 7:22:39 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Absolutely, if it's one thing you have to do, it is to keep moving forward, and never take a step back.
2/20/2003 7:22:57 PM
Rickey Smith: Yep, take this and use it as a learning experience. I think that's what we'd both do. Keep going forward with it, nothing but positives can come of this, as long as you have your head on straight.
2/20/2003 7:23:18 PM
BigDYoung: Rickey and Vanessa, you guys are awesome!!! Just wanted to know what you two were thinking while you were waiting to see if you were picked or not?
2/20/2003 7:23:58 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Don't fall! That's pretty much what I was thinking, because my shoes were so high, almost 5 inches off the ground, and I wasn't used to that!
2/20/2003 7:23:58 PM
Rickey Smith: I'm going home! That was my first initial thought.
2/20/2003 7:24:24 PM
sallysallysally: What has been your most memorable moment on American Idol 2 so far?
2/20/2003 7:24:48 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: It's obviously been making it into the Top 10. And shaking my butt in the judges' faces.
2/20/2003 7:25:39 PM
Rickey Smith: Meeting and making new friends. Friendships are something that I love and cherish, and especially ones that are genuine. Relationships are very important to me, and that was one of the most important experiences to me so far.
2/20/2003 7:25:52 PM
IdolCrazzy: Have you ever been so scared that you forgot all the words to your song?
2/20/2003 7:26:56 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Yes! It was my last audition in Glendale, and I had sung that song a million times. But I totally blanked on stage. Luckily no one noticed!
2/20/2003 7:26:56 PM
Rickey Smith: I didn't really forget any words. Words would be scrambled around, but I didn't forget 'em.
2/20/2003 7:27:18 PM
justsing03: Hey Vanessa and Rickey, Did you watch American Idol Season 1? If so, who was your favorite?
2/20/2003 7:28:15 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: I think my favorite was probably Kelly Clarkson or Tamyra. I thought Tamyra had wonderful stage presence, but Kelly had the voice.
2/20/2003 7:28:15 PM
Rickey Smith: Toss up between Tamyra, Justin and Kelly. It seemed that when they were on the stage, they owned the stage. But when it came to vocals, it was either Tamyra or Kelly.
2/20/2003 7:28:43 PM
seansouthard: What do you think is the number one quality that America is looking for in the next American Idol?
2/20/2003 7:28:53 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Great hair! And a nice butt!
2/20/2003 7:28:53 PM
Rickey Smith: Individuality, and stage presence.
2/20/2003 7:29:17 PM
Rickey Smith: And a nice butt!
2/20/2003 7:29:22 PM
slave4simon: What's in your CD player right now?
2/20/2003 7:29:46 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: I have the Pretenders Greatest Hits in my CD player at all times. That's usually a constant. I'd say that one and keep it at that.
2/20/2003 7:30:14 PM
Rickey Smith: Toss up between Michael Jackson's Off the Wall album, and Michael Jackson's Bad album.
2/20/2003 7:30:24 PM
maliseet_girl: Any words of wisdom for group 4?
2/20/2003 7:31:02 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Be yourself! Be proud of you who are, and remember that the most important thing is to be proud of your performance and that you had a good time.
2/20/2003 7:31:28 PM
Rickey Smith: Have as much fun as you can but stay focused. And be comfortable with your group because you're gonna see them all week!
2/20/2003 7:31:35 PM
lilkaraoke : Have either of you had vocal lessons or singing classes before being on American Idol?
2/20/2003 7:32:39 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: I've only had about four months between a year ago and now. But I have an awesome vocal instructor who trains a lot of nationally acclaimed singers... like Usher and Matchbox 20. And her name's Mama Jan.
2/20/2003 7:33:44 PM
Rickey Smith: I started taking voice lessons about a year and a half ago and his name is David Anazitarte.
2/20/2003 7:33:54 PM
A_bitof_you : If you win, what's the first thing you'll do?
2/20/2003 7:34:17 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: I'm going to Disneyland!
2/20/2003 7:34:17 PM
Rickey Smith: I was just gonna say that!
2/20/2003 7:34:32 PM
Vanessa Olivarez and Rickey Smith: We're going to Disneyland!
2/20/2003 7:35:04 PM
AmericanIdol3: Is it better to go into the competitions thinking "Okay! I've got this in the bag!" or to think that you have no chance?
2/20/2003 7:35:22 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: It's better to be in the middle. Always be confident about your performances, and go into it with a good attitude. But also know that there are a lot of talented people.
2/20/2003 7:36:09 PM
Rickey Smith: I'm not overly cocky, but I'm not under-confident either. You have to be secure in your performances, but if you don't believe in yourself, who will?
2/20/2003 7:36:44 PM
xbettisfanx: If you could write a song about your experiences on American Idol 2, what would the title be?
2/20/2003 7:37:42 PM
Rickey Smith: "Old, Big and Goofy." Those were three different things they said to me this week.
2/20/2003 7:38:02 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Wow, umm...mine would be called, "Shake That Thang!" It would be like the next "Baby Got Back."
2/20/2003 7:38:12 PM
Chat Moderator: Do you guys have any parting words for your fans out there?
2/20/2003 7:38:47 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: Umm..."Don't count your chickens before they hatch?"
2/20/2003 7:38:47 PM
Rickey Smith: "What's good for the goose is good for the gander?"
2/20/2003 7:39:26 PM
Vanessa Olivarez: And eat your greens!
|
